Battling the Bully! (Japanese: ダブルバトル！ピカチュウ・ワルビルVSペンドラー・ガマゲロゲ！！Double Battle! Pikachu & Waruvile VS Pendror & Gamageroge!!) is the 65th episode of the Best Wishes series, and the 722nd episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on February 2, 2012.

Contents

Synopsis

The episode continues off from the last episode where Ash and his friends are suddenly attacked by a Krokorok wearing sunglasses. Pikachu prepares to battle it, and the Krokorok immediately attacks with Crunch. Iris recognizes the Krokorok as the Sandile from the hot springs that evolved at some point. The Krokorok reveals to the gang that it has followed them through Nimbasa Town, the Gear Station, Driftveil City, and Chargestone Cave, where it was revealed it was the reason a pen got caught in a Klinklang's gears, as it had tossed the pen away, unaware about the Klinklang. Iris then asks why it would follow it all the way here, and Krokorok responds by saying it wants to battle Pikachu. Ash is thrilled by this and ready to battle.

He orders Pikachu to use Iron Tail, which Krokorok avoid with Dig. It then surfaces behind Pikachu and prepares to use Crunch on it. Pikachu dodges the attack, and Krokorok fires off a Stone Edge. Ash orders Pikachu to use Electro Ball, which creates an explosion that sends both Krokorok and Pikachu flying. Pikachu then rolls down a hill, where he later ends up in the arms of a young boy named Nick, who immediately gets zapped by Pikachu's Thunderbolt upon landing. Nick then studies Pikachu, and he believes it to be a pre-evolved form of Zekrom since it used Thunderbolt, and came from the sky. He then begs the confused Pokémon to befriend it, then goes off to show his two friends Glenn and Thane. Glenn is impressed that Nick found such a rare Pokémon, and immediately takes it from him. Thane, however, confirms that the Pokémon is a Pikachu, saying that he saw one back when his family travelled to Saffron City. Glenn then asks for a battle, but Nick leaves, telling them he has to do an errand for his mom.

Meanwhile, Ash, Iris, and Cilan are all calling out for Pikachu. Then the Krokorok appears to them, also looking for Pikachu. It then senses Pikachu's presence, and the three follow it. Nick then asks if Pikachu came from Kanto, to which Pikachu happily answers to. He then asks for what moves it can use. Then a voice from out of nowhere says Pikachu also knows Quick Attack, Iron Tail, and Electro Ball. The voice came from Ash, who happily reunites with Pikachu. He, Iris, and Cilan then introduce themselves to Nick, who then introduces himself, then asks from Ash to borrow his Pikachu so he can beat Glenn and Thane in a battle. Cilan then asks for a full story. A flashback shows of Glenn and Thane battling with a Patrat and a Blitzle. Iris then says that the three of them are too young to be Trainers, but Cilan says that a make-believe battle is perfectly fine. Back in the flashback, Glenn and Thane refuse to let Nick battle with the Pokémon, and asks him to get a Pokémon for himself. He says that he'll find a rare one, and put them in their place. Soon after is when Pikachu came and zapped Nick. Iris then understands why he asked for Pikachu, to which Ash happily lets him borrow his buddy, but Cilan recommends a bit of training. As Ash wonders who to use against Pikachu, Krokorok speaks from out of nowhere, wanting to battle Pikachu and help Nick. Ash then asks of Krokorok to go easy on Nick, as this battle is his first. Iris stands by Nick, ready to assist him.

Cilan then calls the match, and Nick orders Pikachu to use Thunderbolt on Krokorok, who is hesitant on this, but obeys. Krokorok is unaffected by this, shocking Nick. Ash further explains that Template:Type2s are immune to Template:Type2 moves. Cilan tells Nick to observe the type compatibilities of the Pokémon before attacking. Nick understands and orders Pikachu to uses Quick Attack, which lands a blow on Krokorok. Nick is impressed with the move, but Iris tells him not to be distracted, and to continue with the battle. He is hesitant on what to do next, but Pikachu wags his tail to jog his memory. He orders an Iron Tail, but Ash commands Krokorok to use Dig, and it avoids Iron Tail. It then burrows back up right in front of Nick, knocking him down form shock, and Ash orders Krokorok to used Crunch on Pikachu. Nick has Pikachu counter with Iron Tail, which land right on Krokorok's head, knocking its sunglasses off. Ash further explains its demeanor to Nick whenever it loses its sunglasses. Krokorok puts on the sunglasses, and starts going after Pikachu in anger. Ash stops him, and decides to use Tepig next. Meanwhile, Glenn and Thane have finished a battle, with Glenn claiming victory. Thane returns an exhausted Patrat and Blitzle back to their Poké Balls.

The two boys wonder where Nick is, so Glenn goes looking for Nick, while also ordering Thane to ask his dad for stronger and cooler Pokémon. Back with Nick and Ash, they have completed training. Cilan then comments on how well Nick is doing as a Trainer, and expects him to be a good one when he is older for sure, as he is a Pokémon Connoisseur, and says his eyes don't lie. Iris reassures Nick of this by saying that Cilan is also a Gym Leader in Striaton City. Ash then asks Nick if he's excited about being a Trainer, and Nick responds by saying he is, and he wants to catch Pokémon and make friends with them. Ash tells him that his heart is essential for that. Glenn appears, asking Nick why he is here. Ash introduces himself to Glenn as Pikachu's Trainer. Glenn then asks Nick if he's ready to battle, to which he says he is ready. Thane returns with two new Pokémon: Scolipede and Seismitoad, which Ash scans with his Pokédex. Glenn likes them both, so he decides to use both of them in battle, but Thane says that it would be unfair as it would be a two-on-one battle, but Glenn says they'll have a double battle instead, but since Nick has only Pikachu, that cannot be done. Krokorok volunteers to assist Nick in the battle, which he accepts. Cilan says he'll pose as the referee, and judge over victory and loss since this is not an official battle. The boys agree to those terms, and Clian calls the match. Nick starts off by having Pikachu use Thunderbolt. Glenn prepares to counterattack, but Thane stops him, instead calling out Seismitoad to block the attack, which it does successfully, shocking Nick once again. Thane tells Glenn that since Seismitoad is part Ground-type, Electric-type attacks are useless against it. Nick understands by comparing it to Krokorok, but Glenn is unaware of what Thane just said. He then commands Scolipede to use Poison Tail on Pikachu. Ash from the sidelines tell Nick to stop the attack. Nick is unsure what to do, then he calls Krokorok to do something. Krokorok decides to count that as a command for Stone Edge, and fires it off at Scolipede and Pikachu. Both Pokémon dodge the attack, but Thane says that dodging would be unnecessary if Scolipede had used Protect, but Glenn says that attacking is the only option. Nick commands Pikachu to use Electro Ball on Scolipede, and for Krokorok to use Crunch on Seismitoad. Glenn decides to attack too and orders Scolipede to use Sludge Bomb on Pikachu, and Seismitoad to use Drain Punch on Krokorok. Thane keeps telling him to have Seismitoad to attack Pikachu, but Glenn just yells at him and tells him to let himself do what he wants. Scolipede fires off Sludge Bomb, which Electro Ball easily plows through. Same goes for Seismitoad, as its Drain Punch could not counter Krokorok's Crunch. Both Pokémon fall, and Cilan calls off the match, declaring Nick as the winner. Pikachu and Krokorok high five, while Glenn gets mad for losing, then calls Nick arrogant before preparing to punch him, but Ash stops him, and Thane yells at Glenn saying he won't play with him anymore. He then wonders what he's going to do with his father's Pokémon. Cilan hands him a can filled with Pokémon food made out of Berries and medicinal plants. Glenn takes the can and feeds Seismitoas and Scolipede. He is sad for losing, but tells Nick he had fun, to which Nick agrees to. Ash has the three shake hands. Glenn apologizes to Nick and Thane, but Nick tells him not to be, since he had fun during the battle, and hopes that the three could battle again someday. Iris expects all three to be great Trainers, and Cilan is happy that he was the witness of a good make-believe battle.

Krokorok then bites on Pikachu, and Ash tries to pull it off. Pikachu helps by using Thunderbolt on Ash and Krokorok, Ash having pulled it out. He then asks Krokorok if it wants to settle the score with Pikachu, to which it agrees. Nick is confused, but Iris and Cilan tell him that Krokorok is not Ash's, and is instead Pikachu's rival. Both Pokémon prepare for battle, and Krokorok begins with a Crunch attack. Ash orders Pikachu to use Quick Attack, which lands a blow right on Krokorok's face. It fires a Stone Edge, which Pikachu dodges, but is now trapped around the stones. Krokorok digs underground, and strikes Pikachu. He regains his composure, and Krokorok prepares to attack again. Ash orders Pikachu to use Thunderbolt, but Nick tells him that it will be ineffective. Ash tells Pikachu to aim the Thunderbolt at Krokorok's feet, which creates a hole on the ground that Krokorok trips on. Thane is surprised to see moves used like that. Cilan tells him disadvantageous moves can be used differently to make an advantage. Ash then orders Pikachu to use Quick Attack, which lands again on Krokorok's face, while also knocking off its sunglasses. Nick tells him to finish it off, but Ash and Pikachu do nothing. Nick asks why he isn't doing anything, which Ash responds by saying that since this is a real battle, they fight fairly. Krokorok finds its sunglasses, and prepares to finish Pikachu off with Crunch. Ash orders Pikachu to counter with Iron Tail, and both the attacks collide. They then stand still and, after a short while, Krokorok falls. The boys cheer and comment on how awesome the battle was. Ash then asks Krokorok if it's alright. Krokorok gets up and walks away, depressed from having lost many times with Pikachu. Ash then calls Krokorok and asks it where it will go from here, then asks it if it would like to join him. Krokorok happily agrees, and Ash catches the Desert Croc Pokémon in a Poké Ball.